Unabated rain seems to have failed to dampen the spirit of the students of DAV (PG) College engaged in campaigning for the students union election slated for Friday. Braving the rain, they were found taking out rallies in the campus on Wednesday. Students’ groups used all possible means to manage a huge turnout in their rallies, no matter whether those participating are eligible to vote or not.
Sources said that to make the rallies impressive, supporters were brought in from across several districts through various modes of transportation made available. On the condition of anonymity, a student leader said that they had provided transport facilities for the youths of various places like Vikasnagar, Chakrata, Mussoorie and Doiwala to participate in the rally. lakhs of rupees had been spent on the transportation and the food provided for the participating youth, he disclosed.
The administration deployed additional police forces in the college to maintain law and order during the rallies. Rallies of NSUI and Aryan Group started from Parade Ground where thousands of students gathered, braving the inclement weather. While ABVP took out its rally on Tuesday, a dissident faction of the outfit led by Sanjay Tomar took out one in the college on Wednesday.
Traffic jams resulted from the rallies advancing towards the college premises from the points they had started. Police were deployed in good measure, but to no avail. Commuters were inconvenienced as the traffic either got stuck or crawled.
As the rallies reached the college campus, the supporters burst crackers and were found dancing to drum beats. Some of them were found carrying balloons which were later floated in the air.
Some teachers pointed out while insisting on anonymity that the youth being gathered in the rallies from outside the college was in clear violation of the of the norms envisaged by lyngdoh Committee. Some of the teachers were found busy in collecting sticks from the rallyists, used to put their respective unions’ flags from.
However, the college election officers were nowhere to be seen in the picture.
Rashmi, second year student of DAV (PG) College, said that the massive rallies taken out by the unions had impressed her a great deal. “They took the rains in their stride, a spectacle to view,” she added.
Anisha, a Political Science student of the same college, however, vented her anger over the election officers remaining mute spectators with the lyngdoh Committee Recommendations being violated with impunity. “They should make it a point that gathering outsiders in such rallies would invite punitive action,” she said.